Why Ontario’s regulated market is winning versus offshore gaming
Four years after launch, the regulated market channels play into the provincial economy and increases player protection
Key Takeaways
- Ontario opened its regulated online gaming market on 4 April 2022 with 12 operators at launch and now lists 49 operators and 84 regulated sites.
- In the first year there were over 1.6 million active player accounts; player participation on regulated sites rose from 85% to more than 90%.
- The market reported about $35.6 billion in wagers and $1.4 billion in revenue in year one, and in year four exceeded $103 billion in wagers and $4.2 billion in revenue.
- iGaming Ontario and the AGCO require RNG testing by approved labs such as eCOGRA and GLI, and mandate responsible-gaming tools including the BetGuard exclusion portal for those 19 and over.
By opening a regulated online gaming market on 4 April 2022, Ontario offered players a legal, supervised alternative to offshore sites. Twelve private operators went live that day; as of 2026 there are 49 operators licensed by iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) operating 84 regulated sites.
By Miguel Sandoval, Corresponsal de regulación
Adoption and market size
In its first year of operation, regulated sites in Ontario recorded more than 1.6 million active player accounts managed by over forty operators. An Ipsos survey showed that at the end of that first year about 85% of respondents used regulated sites; that share has risen and now exceeds 90%.
The market delivered around $35.6 billion in total wagers and about $1.4 billion in gaming revenue in its first year. In its fourth year, regulated operators generated more than $103 billion in betting activity and $4.2 billion in gaming revenue.
Benefits for players and the province
Operators licensed under Ontario’s regulatory framework must meet strict requirements on transparency, fair-play testing and consumer protection. Those obligations include the use of independent random number generators (RNG) and verification by AGCO-approved laboratories such as eCOGRA and GLI before games may be made available to players. Regulated casinos must also maintain clear audit trails and publish RTP percentages explicitly.
The regulation prevents player funds from being automatically extracted from the provincial economy. In Canadian jurisdictions where platforms are government-run and offer limited catalogues, many players used offshore operators, which shifted tax receipts out of the province. Ontario’s regulated market redirected that activity into the local economy and, according to the cited analysis, helped fund public services.
Fiscal data and employment drawn from the market show direct economic effects: tax revenues support schools, hospitals and roads, and sector activity supports related businesses and development studios that generate more than 15,000 full-time jobs.
Competition, product and responsibility
Open competition has forced operators to broaden product portfolios, improve bonuses and prioritise convenience and user security. The more successful operators are those that listen to customers and prioritise transparency.
Regulation also requires operators to provide responsible-gaming tools, including deposit limits, loss limits, session reminders and access to support resources. Operators are subject to ongoing supervision and compliance checks to prevent fraud, underage gambling and misleading marketing practices.
Protection tool: BetGuard
iGaming Ontario launched in 2026 the tool BetGuard, which allows users aged 19 or older to exclude themselves from all regulated Ontario gaming platforms from a single portal. BetGuard prevents excluded users from accessing their existing accounts or creating new accounts with operators regulated by iGaming Ontario and the AGCO; it also blocks marketing communications from regulated sites.
BetGuard’s existence is cited as a concrete example of how the regulatory framework delivers safeguards that help reduce gambling-related harm.
Risks of offshore sites and dispute resolution
While many offshore sites may operate legitimately and hold licences in other jurisdictions, not all do. Players who fail to verify licences risk landing on fraudulent sites. Ontario’s regulation sets mechanisms to audit games, verify RNG and require RTP transparency, which reduce that exposure.
When disputes arise—over unpaid winnings or disagreements about the entitlement to a bonus—regulatory oversight provides avenues for complaints. Operators who breach rules may face sanctions ranging from fines to licence revocation by iGaming Ontario or the AGCO.
Current status and outlook
Four years after launch, adoption and revenue indicators show that the Ontario regulated market reached significant scale: more than 49 operators, 84 regulated sites, player share on regulated sites above 90%, and fourth-year figures exceeding $103 billion in wagers and $4.2 billion in revenue.
Several provincial stakeholders and observers are now evaluating Ontario’s experience as a model for other provinces considering opening competitive markets.
Note on original authorship: many of the arguments and figures derive from analysis by Lara Wilson, a contributing expert at Casino.ca, compiled and reported here by Miguel Sandoval.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ontario open its regulated online gaming market?
Ontario’s regulated market opened on 4 April 2022. Twelve private operators went live that day, and the offering has since grown to 49 operators and 84 regulated sites.
What revenues did the regulated market generate in its early years?
In the first year the regulated market recorded roughly $35.6 billion in wagers and about $1.4 billion in gaming revenue. By the fourth year activity exceeded $103 billion in wagers and produced more than $4.2 billion in revenue.
What player-protection mechanisms exist in Ontario?
Mechanisms include independent RNG testing by AGCO-approved laboratories such as eCOGRA and GLI, transparency obligations on RTP, deposit limits and tools such as BetGuard that allow exclusion from all regulated platforms for those aged 19 and over.
How has player preference shifted toward regulated sites?
An Ipsos survey indicated that after the first year approximately 85% of respondents used regulated sites; that proportion has increased and now exceeds 90%.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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